Call or Push: Internet gambling legislation

“Poker lobbyists are ramping up an aggressive push backed by millions of dollars to legalize Internet gambling in the United States this year, hoping to overcome passionate objections from social conservatives, sports leagues and other longtime opponents,” begins this article by Dan Eggen for The Washington Post.

In the article, Eggen describes the supporters of legalized gambling as including: former Republican senator Alfonse M. D’Amato (N.Y.), who serves as chairman of the Poker Players Alliance, which is a 1.2 million member organization; many democrats; and some casino outfits. The opposition includes “all four major U.S. sports leagues and numerous religious groups,” and some casino outfits.